Charcoal toothpaste whitening
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Most charcoal toothpastes are safe to use and contain natural ingredients found in many types of fluoride-free toothpaste.
Although charcoal can adsorb poisons when ingested, there’s no evidence that it detoxifies your mouth or body in any meaningful way.
Is charcoal toothpaste safe to use?
Most charcoal toothpaste is safe to use on a regular basis.
Look for a brand made from coconut charcoal products rather than wood ash.
The bottom line
If you’ve already hopped on the charcoal toothpaste train or if you’re determined to give it a try, dentists say that the key is to proceed with caution.
Also known as activated carbon, activated charcoal is created in a high heat process without oxygen.
Natural home remedies
Although these options may not be as effective as some commercial teeth whitening products, they’re more natural and are easy to use. However, it may support a healthy oral microbiome.You should use charcoal toothpaste no more than 2-3 times per week.
About Mark Burhenne, DDS
I’m on a mission to empower people everywhere with the same evidence-based, easy-to-understand dental health advice that my patients get.
This is one reason you should be very careful with charcoal powder as a toothpaste — a gritty powder could potentially scratch or erode enamel.
Bottom Line
Charcoal toothpaste can be a great addition to your oral hygiene routine.
But it’s the longer-term effects that people need to understand.
Potential downsides of toothpaste with charcoal
Those same abrasive properties that might help do away with surface-level stains may cause bigger problems over time. And in toothpaste, it offers a natural way to lift minor stains.
It's simply too abrasive for the task, risking damage to tooth enamel, the protective outer covering of the teeth. Many brands claim activated charcoal toothpaste can whiten teeth, freshen breath, and even prevent cavities.
But… is this dental product worth the hype?
Charcoal toothpaste benefits include a whiter smile and fresh breath.
However, it will likely not have the same effect removing stains from your dental appliances as it does on natural teeth.
Q
Is charcoal toothpaste safe for pregnant women or for children?
A
Charcoal toothpaste is considered safe during pregnancy. In fact, a 2017 review in The Journal of the American Dental Association found that evidence supporting charcoal toothpaste’s whitening or oral-health benefits is limited and inconclusive.
“Charcoal toothpaste has become a huge fad online—especially on TikTok—with videos showing dramatic whitening results,” says Tyler Hales, D.D.S., a cosmetic dentist and founder of Hales Aesthetic in Orange County, CA.
“While it might look effective, the truth is more complicated.”
So is this trendy black paste actually worth adding to your bathroom counter, or should you stick with traditional fluoride formulas? “Activated charcoal has long been used in medicine for its absorption properties,” Johannes Jacobs, D.D.S., founder of Jacobs & Associates Dental in Oakville, Ontario, says.
Used improperly, the abrasive property of charcoal can quickly cause enamel erosion.
The Best Charcoal Toothpaste
I’ve reviewed many charcoal toothpastes to find my favorite brand. True teeth whitening products use peroxide held against the teeth for 10-60 minutes or more to intrinsically whiten teeth.
Charcoal Toothpaste for Bad Breath
Charcoal toothpaste freshens breath by adsorbing to some acidic compounds in the mouth that may cause halitosis.
Specifically, it may wear down enamel, which harms overall dental health in several ways.
“I’ve had patients—especially those who brush forcefully or use gritty charcoal pastes—present with increased sensitivity or even dull-looking teeth,” Khalife says, stressing that when “enamel wears away, it can’t be regenerated.”
A 2021 study backs this up.
You can read my story here. You're better off opting for a standard, fluoride-containing toothpaste instead of a trendy newer product.
Image: © Rostislav_Sedlacek/Getty Images
About the Author
Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
Dr.
Toni Golen is a physician specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, practicing in Boston. Speak with a dentist about the best whitening option for you.